Table and means controlling and guiding the folding thereof into storage position within a housing



March 27. 1956 K. H. wlLsoN 2,739,860

TABLE* AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AND GUIDI-NG THE FOLDING IHEREOF INTOSTORAGE POSITION WITHIN A HOUSING Filed MaICh 4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l f27, 1956 K. H. wlLso TABLE AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AND GUIDING THEFOLDING THEREOF INTO STORAGE POSITION WITHIN A HOUSING Filed March 4,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March 27. 1956 K, WnLSQN 2,739,860

TABLE AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AND GUIDING THE FOLDING THEREOF INTOSTORAGE POSITION WITHIN A HOUSING Filed March 4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheei 3United States Patent TABLE AND MEANS CQNTRLLING AND GUE)- ING THE FLDINGTHEREGF INTO STORAGE PSTION WETHN A HUSING Kermit H. Wilson,Minneapoiis, Minn. Application March 4, 1955, Serial No. 492,213 SClaims. (Cl. S11-16.5)

My invention relates generally to table structures and more particularlyto tables which may be folded for storage and the like.

.thereabout- Where space is at a premium, and it is desire that a singleroom be utilized for eating purposes, after which it is desired that theroom be cleared for dancing or other purposes, it is important that thetables be removed from the room with a maximum of speed and a minimum ofeffort and disturbance. An important object of my invention is,therefore, the provision of a .table which may be quickly and easily setup for use, and which may as readily be folded to an inoperative storageposition and moved to an outoftheway location with a minimum of time andeffort involved.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel linkageand counterbalancing means whereby a table of the above type ismaintained in a folded storage position against accidental unfoldingmovements.

Still another object of my invention is the provision ot' novel meansfor supporting one end portion of a table of the above type to abuilding wall or the like.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a table of the abovetype having novel means for attachment to a building wall, said meanspermitting detachment of the table from the wall and including anindependent supporting device whereby the table may be placed in anydesired position in a room.

The above and still further highly important objects and advantages otmy invention will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of thenovel table of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in perspective of the under side of one end portion ofthe table structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. l but showing the table of Fig. lin a folded position in a wall structure;

Fig. 4- is a view in end elevation of the structure of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section takensubstantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation taken onthe line 6 5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail in section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig.6; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are view corresponding to Fig. 7 but showing differentpositions of the parts thereof.

In the `form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, atable top 1 is shown as comprising a pair of cooperating table topsections 2 and 3 each mounted on a respective generally rectangularframe 4 and 5. A central supporting structure 69 is preferably made frommetallic tubing and formed into inverted generally U-shape to provide atransversely extending supporting element or seat 70 and laterallyspaced depending legs 71 having ground or floor engaging rollers 72at-their lower ends. The transverse supporting element engages andfreely supports the adjacent inner ends of the table top sections 2. and3'.

At its outer end, the table top section 3' is supported by an outer endsupporting member 27 which is adapted to be locked in its operativetable supporting position` The table top sectiony of Fig. 1 by a lockinglever 33. 2' at its outer end is adapted to be supported by a pair oflegs .73 and 74 that are joined intermediate their ends by a bracemember 75. Plate-like mounting brackets 76 are Welded to the upper endportions of the legs 73 and 74 and are pivotally secured to side framemembers 77 and 78 of the frame 4 as indicated at 79.

The table top sections 2 and 3 are connected to the transversesupporting seat '70 each by one of a pair of first control links 4i' and42 respectively that are pivotally secured at their inner ends to thetransverse seat 70 for upward and downward swinging movements and theirouter ends to the intermediate portions of the frames 4 and 5respectively. A pair of rigid second control links 49 and 50 underlietheir respective table top sections 2 and 3 and have their inner endspivotally secured to the supporting structure 69 as indicated at 80 andS1 respectively for upward and downward swinging movements. The outerends of the control links 49 and 50' are pivotally secured to theirrespective frames 4 and 5 longitudinally outwardly of the pivotalconnections of the first control links 41 and 42' thereto, as indicatedat 52 and 54 respectively. The invention described thus far is similarto that illustrated in my copending application Serial Number 492,212,tiled March 4, 1955, Table-Bench Having Means for Controlling andGuiding the Folding Thereof Into Storage Position, with parts of theinstant application bearing numerals with prime marks added beingclosely similar to those parts bearing like numerals in the form of theinvention as disclosed in the said co-pending application Serial Number492,212. It will further be noted, with reference to Fig. 3, that thetable top section 3 partakes of movement similar to that of the tabletop sections 2 and 3, of said co-pending application cited above, whenbeing moved from its horizontal operative position to its inoperativestorage position.

The table 1 is particularly adapted to be connected to and supported bya supporting structure anchored t0 a wall surface or received within arecess within a wall. Such a building wall is indicated by the numeral82 having a recess 83 therein. Rigidly secured to the opposite sides S4of the recess 83 are a pair of relatively stationary guide rails or thelike 85 which extend vertically from the iloor X. A supporting memberindicated in its entirety at 36 comprises a pair of slides 87 one eachmounted and guided in a different one of said guide rails 85 and atubular cross baror arm 88 anchored to the slides 87 adjacent theirlower ends. Laterally spaced pairs of gripping elements 89 and 9i) havehook-like ends 91 and 92 which are adapted to embrace the arm 88 forpivotal movements about the axis thereof. The i gripping element 89 isrigidly secured to the underside of the table top section 2 the frame 4as by welding or the like to thereof. The movable gripping elements`V9() are pivotally secured intermediate their ends one each to one of acooperating one of the stationary gripping elements S9 for upward anddownward swingingmovements as indicated at 93. Intermediate the' pivotalconnections 93 and their inner ends, the movable gripping elements 96are provided with arcuate slots 94 each of which receives a pin 95 whichprojects laterally outwardly from an adjacentleg 73. The arrangement ofthe pin and slot connection 94-95 with respectl to the pivotalconnection 79 between the legs 73` and the frame 4 is such that when thelegs 73 are in their `-horizontal inoperative position indicated by fulllines in Fig. l, the hook-like ends 91 and 92 of the gripping elementsare in operative engagement with the ,armi 38. When the legs 73 areswung downwardly to their generally vertical table top supportingposition ,as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. l and 6, the movablegripping elements 90 are positioned so that the hook-like elements91-and 92 are spaced apart suiciently to permit withdrawal from the arm88. In this position of the legs 73, it will be seen that the pins 95thereof are seated in recess 96 at one 'end of the slots 94 whereby thelegs 73 are held in vertical table supporting position. The movablegripping elements 9@ may be locked in arm gripping positions by bolts 97extending through apertures 98 in the inner ends of the grippingelements 90 and screw threadedV into threaded holes, not shown, in thelegs 73.

The slides 87 are releasably locked in their upper table supportingpositions by releasable latch mechanism which may be of any suitabletype, but as shown, may comprise resilient latch bars 99 one eachanchored to one of the opposed guide rails 85. Each of the slides 87 isformed to provide an abutment 160 which is engageable by the upper endof a kslide block 101 vertically slidably mounted in a slot 102 in theslide 87. Each slide block 101 is provided adjacent its lower end with acam-acting surface portion 103 which is engageable with the `outturnedabutment engaging end 104 of the latch bar -99 in a manner now to bedescribed. The slide block 1101 is` gravity biased toward the bottom ofthe slot 102 as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. When the end supporting member86, including the slides 87, is raised to its table top supportingposition, the latch bar 99 each being yieldingly biased towardengagement with its cooperating abutment 100, snaps into tablesupporting position as indicated in Fig. 7. When it is decided to foldup the table 1', vthe end supporting member S6 is manually raised to itsdotted line position of Fig. 7, causing the slide blocks. 101 toY movetheir respective latch bar 99 whereby the upper. abutment engaging end104 thereof will be moved ,out .of the path of travel of the abutmentsit). Y The adjacent end ofthe table top section 2 together with thesupporting member 8 6 is then permitted to move downwardly. At` thisktime, the frictional engagementof the slide. blocks ltl with theircooperating latch bars 99is vsuiicient to. cause the slide blocks toremain stationary until theupper ends thereof engage the abutments d ,asindicated in Fig. 8. The inner surfaces MP5 and 106 of the slidebloelcs101 and the slides 87 respectively form a continuous wall over ywhichthe latch bars 99 slide, thusv` permitting lthe supporting member 86 tomove downwardly beyond the latch bars 99 as illustrated in Fig. 9.

During the initial folding movements of the table 1', the tendency ofthe outer end of the table top section 2 to move longitudinallyinwardlytoward the central supporting structure 69 causes the entiretable structure to move toward the wall S2. When the central supportingstructure 69 is received within the recess S3, the table top section 2is disposed substantially parallel to and adjacent the rear wall 83a ofthe recess. Thereafter, thelocking lever 33 is unlatched, and the endsupporting member 27 is moved to its inoperative position. The outer endof the table top section 3 then moves downwardly and inwardly as shownby the broken line B' in Fig. 3, the outer ends of the control links2"andV 5G direction Convierte the-direction 9i-swinging movement ofthet'ble top section 3. As further shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the tabletop section 3 is moved toits inoperative storage position the topsurface thereof will be substantially iiush with the wall 82.

From the above, it will be seen that the invention illustrated may beanchored to and supported by end supporting member 86, or removed fromengagement therewith and supported at that end by the legs 73 asdesired. 'Although the same are not shown herein, ,the counterbalancingsprings of my co-pending application Serial Number 3361491, cited above,may be, if desired, applied to vme novel table of this invention to aidin moving the table top sections to their storage positions andmaintaining the same in said storage positions.

Similarly, if desired, the benches or seats of my co-pending applicationSerial Number 492,212 may also be applied to the table 1' withoutchanging the structure thereof materially.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completelysatisfactory for the, accomplishment of the objectives set forth; andwhile I have shown and described a commercial form of my novel tablestructure anda single modification thereof, it will be understood thatthe same` is capable of further modification within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the claims.

l claim:

l. In a fold-up table, a supporting structure providing a seat, a tabletop having one end normally disposed over and freely resting on the seatof the supporting structure, first and second control links underlyingsaid table top, the first control link being pivotally connected at oneend to said supporting structure and at its other end to theintermediate under portion of the table top, the second. controllinltbeing pivotally connected at one `end to the Supporting structure belowthe pivotal connection of the rst link thereto and at its other end tothe intermediate under side of the table top at a point between pivotconnection of the first link thereto and .the other end of the tabletop, said pivotal connections having parallel horizontal axes extendingtransversely of the table top, Aand means supporting the other end ofthe table top, said last-mentioned means comprising a relativelystationary vertical rail adapted to be mounted on a building wall, amovable end supporting member mounted and guided on said rail forvertical movements relative thereto, latch mechanism releasably lockingsaid end supporting member in table supporting position on said rail,and releasable means pivotally mounting the other end portion` of thetable on said end supporting member, release of said latch mechanismpermitting upward swingingmovements of said control links and swingingmovementof-the table topfrom its horizontal operative position to agenerally vertical storage position about the axis of the pivotalconnection of said first link thereto and in an angular directioncounter to that of the first link, thus causing said other end to movedownwardly and said seat forming supporting structure to move towardsaid other end.

2. The structure dened in claim l in which said movable end supportingmember includes a horizontally disposed arm extending parallel to theaxes of said pivotal connections and in which said releasable meanscomprises a pair of opposed gripping elements normally `embracing saidarm and movable about the axis thereof.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which one of said4 grippingelements is mounted on said table for swinging movements toward andaway' from the other thereof, said arm being releasable from saidgripping elementswhen said elements-are inspread apart relationship,

4. The structure defined in claim l in which said movable end supportingmember includes a horizontally disposed arm extending parallel to theaxes of said pivotal connections `and in which saidreleasable ,meanscomprises a pair of opposed gripping elements,normallytembracing saidarm and movable with said table top about the axis thereof, one of saidgripping elements being pivotally mounted on said table for swingingmovements toward and away from the other thereof, and in furthercombination with means for imparting said movements to the movablegripping member, said last-mentioned means comprising a supporting legfor the adjacent end of the table top, means pivotally mounting one endof said leg for movements between a locking position substantiallyparallel with and adjacent the under side of the table top and a tablesupporting position at substantially right angles thereto, andconnections between said leg and said movable gripping element wherebysaid gripping element will be moved toward gripping engagement with saidarm when the leg is moved to its locking position and causing saidmovable gripping element to release said arm when the leg is moved toits table supporting position.

5. In a fold-up table, a central supporting structure providing a seat,a table top comprising a pair of cooperating top sections having theiradjacent inner ends freely resting on said seat, a pair of tirst rigidcontrol links each underlying a dilerent one of said table top sectionsand each pivotally connected adjacent its inner end to the supportingstructure for independent upward and downward swinging movements of itsouter end and each being pivotally connected at its outer end portion tothe intermediate under portion of the adjacent table top section, asecond pair of rigid control links each underlying a different one ofsaid table top sections and each pivotally connected adjacent its innerend to the central supporting structure in a horizontal plane of theaxis of the pivotal connection of the adjacent link of said rst pair tothe supporting structure for upward and downward swinging movement ofits outer end and each being pivotally connected adjacent its outer endto the intermediate under side portion of its respective table topsection at a point outwardly spaced from the pivotal connection of thecooperating rst link to the adjacent table top section, means supportingthe outer end of one of said table sections when said section is in ahorizontal position, and independent means supporting the outer end ofthe other of said table sections, said last-mentioned means comprising arelatively stationary vertical rail adapted to be mounted on a buildingwall, a movable end supporting member mounted and guided on said railfor vertical movements relative thereto, latch mechanism releasablylocking said end supporting member in table supporting position on saidrail, and releasable means pivotally mounting the outer end portion ofsaid other table section on said supporting member, release of saidlatch mechanism permitting upward swinging movements of the controllinks of said other table section and swinging movement of said othertable section from its horizontal operative position to a generallyvertical storage position about the axis of the pivotal connection ofits respective first link thereto and in an angular direction counter tothat of its respective rst link.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 319,915Linsley et al June 9, 1885 1,828,780 McKnight Oct. 7, 1931 2,131,675Schieber Sept. 27, 1938 2,203,394 Schieber `lune 4, 1940 2,421,127Peckham May 27, 1947 2,43 6,730 Repke Feb. 24, 1948 2,650,146 MugierAug. 25, 1953 2,699,978 Mugier Jan. 18, 1955

